Fraktdokument

Fraktdokument is a generic term for any document that accompanies freight shipments and records information about the goods and the contract of carriage. It functions as evidence of the transport agreement, a description of the cargo, consignor and consignee, and the terms under which the carrier undertakes to move the goods. Fraktdokumenter are used across different modes of transport, including road, rail, sea, and air, and may be issued by shippers, carriers, or freight forwarders.

Common types include the bill of lading (sea), airway bill (air), and consignment notes for road and rail, as well as packing lists, commercial invoices, certificates of origin, and insurance documents. The exact set depends on the mode of transport, the route, and trade regulations. In land transport in many regions, the CMR consignment note is a widely used fraktdokument; for rail, a CIM note; for sea, a bill of lading; for air, an airway bill. Packing lists help receivers verify contents; commercial invoices and certificates support customs clearance and duties.

Digitalization increasingly replaces paper documents with electronic fraktdokumenter, or e-fraktdokumenter, allowing e-signatures and electronic data interchange (EDI). International conventions and national laws govern liability, transit procedures, and documentation validity, and certain documents are required to enable customs clearance, insurance claims, and liability allocation in case of loss or damage.

Fraktdokumentet is a central element in logistics planning and risk management, ensuring accurate transfer of information and traceability throughout the shipment lifecycle.